By Denise A. Valenti Every April, America's pastime of baseball returns to ballparks across the country as communities can once again take in the sights of the stadium and cheer on their favorite team. But one thing many fans will not see this season is the use of tobacco among players. For years, the players' use of tobacco products — in particular smokeless tobacco — has set a terrible example for impressionable youth. As recently as 2015, a CDC study found that 11 percent of high school baseball players reported using smokeless tobacco.READ MORE

The Dallas Morning NewsDallas ISD baseball coaches are on the front lines of a battle Major League Baseball is desperate to win. The league has poured millions into bringing the game into the inner city. But the fight is complicated, clashing with culture and a lack of opportunity.READ MORE

The Times-PicayuneA 10-year marathon quietly ended recently, a long and winding piece of college athletic legislation finally crossing the finish line after a decade of waffling opinions from coaches, athletic directors and school presidents. The College Commissioners Association, which administers letters of intent, officially approved the first-ever college football early signing period effective in December.READ MORE

The TimesPorter County, Indiana, has long been a hotbed for distance running. A soon-to-be published book, "Enduring Wisdom: Lessons from Indiana's Championship High School Cross Country Coaches," taps into the insight of several local coaches who established a standard of excellence in the sport.READ MORE

USA TodayJohn Jay-Cross River Athletic (N.Y.) Director Chris McCarthy spends the majority of his time at his school's sporting events watching the parents in the stands rather than the athletes in the game. There have been a number of occasions when McCarthy has had to escort officials to their cars after unruly fans created an unsafe environment following high school contests. McCarthy's experience is not unique.READ MORE

Cronkite News High school athletes in Arizona can now practice their sport year-round — whether they like it or not. Reaction has been mixed among Arizona coaches, but most aren’t expecting to see dramatic changes in their programs because many schools already hold some sort of year-round practices or workouts through “varsity physical education” classes.READ MORE

ESPNDozens of grad transfers, in search of better paths to the next level, have shaken up conference championship outlooks and buttressed the playoff hopes of their new teams. If signing day is college football's version of the draft, the grad transfer practice has become its free agency.READ MORE

USA TodayWhile the impact attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD, can have on students in the classroom is often the focus of studies, less is known about how the disorder affects young athletes. Researchers at the Wexner Medical Center recently performed a study and found that athletes with ADHD have increased impulsivity which can put them at a higher risk for injury, especially in contact sports.READ MORE

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By Brian Stack Unlike a broken bone, which is healed by way of a visible cast or sling, people who are suffering from a concussion don't look like they are suffering from an injury. It is especially difficult for children, who oftentimes cannot articulate what they are feeling or why. Thus, educators need to know how to identify a concussion in their students, and what steps need to be taken to help a student heal from the injury and return to regular classroom activities.READ MORE

USA TodayThe percent of children aged six to 12 who were physically active three or more times a week had its biggest drop in five years and is now under 25 percent, new data show. Making matters worse, households with incomes under $50,000 have much higher rates of inactivity than families making more than $75,000 annually, an analysis by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association and PHIT America found. In fact, low income Americans are getting more inactive while high income Americans are becoming more active.READ MORE

By Noelle Talmon The League of American Bicyclists notes that 40 percent of all trips in the United States are less than two miles, and cycling is a fun and easy way to run errands and go to the office. Bicycle commuting in the United States is on the rise. In bicycle-friendly communities, commuting rates increased 105 percent from 2000 to 2013. Bike to Work Day is May 19, and a new study shows why you should opt for two wheels instead of four when commuting around town. READ MORE